Former "Jeopardy" host Mayim Bialik said it's been a "real challenge" to be a liberal and be an outspoken supporter for Israel following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
Appearing on Wednesday's installment of "The Sage Steele Show," Bialik was asked about the overall silence coming from Hollywood as the war between Israel and Hamas has unfolded.
"Like what we talked about with this, you know, the Trauma Olympics, right? There seems to only be room for one pain in this kind of conversation," Bialik told Steele. "There's room for everyone's pain. You can hold all those things at once."
"It's a real challenge to be a liberal person who also believes that Israel has a right to exist. I'm a bleeding heart liberal, though. It's very a very strange place to be. It's a strange intersection," Bialik said.
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The "Big Bang Theory" star continued, "When October 7 happened, and all around the world, before Israel even, you know, had the time to collect the bodies, there was celebration. That struck a very deep chord with Jewish people all over the world. And, you know, the Jewish people are often the canary in the coal mine. We're often the first that is scapegoated. And yeah, it's very painful."
"Have you had conversations with friends who have voices and have chosen to stay silent?" Steele asked.
"Yeah," Bialik responded. "I think that anyone who thinks that you should celebrate the massacre of innocent people, that's a very different conversation. But even with my kids, my older one especially, you know, there's a conversation to be had about what does it mean when antisemitism rises because of the policies of the Israeli government - which, we may not agree with the policies of the Israeli government - but what does it mean when there's a world increase in hatred towards one group of people because of the policies of a government that doesn't even represent them? That's called problematic."
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Bialik went on, "So, to me, there's a real kind of distinction to be made, and yeah, I don't understand people celebrating terrorism against any people… It's been very painful. I have a lot of family in Israel, the vast majority of my family is in Israel. And it's complicated, and [I've got] family on all sides of the political spectrum. And I have family in uniform right now, you know. But again, the actions of the Israeli government should not have any impact on the way people treat Jews in your college dorm."
Bialik has been among the most outspoken Hollywood celebrities to speak out following Oct. 7.
In November, the Emmy-nominated actress called out feminist groups for their silence on the brutal crimes Hamas terrorists committed against women.
"There has been an abhorrent and conspicuous absence of women’s organizations around the world unequivocally condemning the systematic rape and torture of women on October 7 by Hamas," Bialik wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "Brutal gang rapes, sexual torture, and murder of fetuses happened- period. Where are the ‘BELIEVE THEM’ voices?"
"These crimes against women were in many cases documented by the terrorists themselves and broadcast for the world to see," she added. "Those of us who have fought for women’s rights and have sought to shout from the rooftops when women’s bodies are being used in war for the sadistic pleasure of perpetrators are astounded at how the world has been silent surrounding this."
